Apparatus for shooting foundry cores or molds

Abstract

An apparatus for shooting foundry cores or molds with a shooting arrangement (1), a set of tools comprising an upper tool (6) and a lower tool (7), and a tool change mechanism (8) rotatable about a vertical axis (10) and comprising two tool change frames (9), each of the tool change frames (9) being adapted for alternate rotation into and out of the shooting arrangement (1), is designed and constructed for optimal exploitation or utilization such that the tool change frame (9) rotated into the shooting arrangement (1) serves to receive the lower tool (7) carrying the cores (11), and that the lower tool (7) carrying the cores (11) is rotatable out of the shooting arrangement (11) and at the same time the other tool change frame (9) can be rotated into the shooting arrangement (1) with a preferably cleaned lower tool (7).

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for molding foundry cores comprising a support frame,   a shooting head mounted on said support frame,   an upper tool mounted on said support frame below said shooting head,   lower tool,   a tool change mechanism for supporting said lower tool and moving the same between an operative position located below said upper tool and a withdrawn position, said tool change mechanism being rotatable about a vertical axis and including two tool change frames, with each of said tool change frames being configured to support said lower tool thereupon such that the lower tool may be lifted therefrom,   a lifting table mounted to said support frame below said operative position of said tool change mechanism and configured for lifting the lower tool from the mechanism and moving the same upwarding against the upper tool to form a mold which may then be filled by said shooting head, and such that when the lifting table is lowered the lower tool and the resulting molded core are separated from the upper tool and the lower tool is repositioned upon said mechanism, and the mechanism is then able to move the lower tool and molded core to said withdrawn position where the molded core may be removed from the lower tool.   
     
     
       2. The molding apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said two tool change frames are diametrically opposed to each other, and whereby the two tool change frames may be alternately moved horizontally between said operative and withdrawn positions upon rotation of said tool change mechanism about said vertical axis. 
     
     
       3. The molding apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said lower tool includes support pins on opposite sides thereof, and each of said tool change frames includes a support for engaging the underside of the support pins. 
     
     
       4. The molding apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool change mechanism is rotatable about said vertical axis by at least 180° degrees. 
     
     
       5. The molding apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool change mechanism is endlessly rotatable about said vertical axis. 
     
     
       6. The molding apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second lifting table positioned below said withdrawn position and so as to be able to lift the lower tool from its associated tool change frame. 
     
     
       7. The molding apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second lifting table positioned below said withdrawn position and wherein the second lifting table includes an ejector for ejecting a molded core upwardly from the lower tool.